This guide explores the Korean vocabulary and expressions needed to describe the imaginative scene of a mermaid singer persuading a whale to harmonize with a song from the ocean depths. Learn key terms related to mermaids, whales, singing, persuasion, and the ocean, along with cultural insights and practical examples to bring this fantastical image to life in Korean.
Table Of Content
Core Concept Description
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Expression: 인어 가수가 고래를 설득해 심해의 노래로 함께 화음을 맞추는 모습
Pronunciation: in-eo ga-su-ga go-rae-reul seol-deuk-hae sim-hae-ui no-rae-ro ham-kke hwa-eum-eul mat-chu-neun mo-seup
Meaning: The scene of a mermaid singer persuading a whale to harmonize together with a song of the deep sea.
Key Vocabulary: Characters and Setting
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Expression: 인어
Pronunciation: in-eo
Meaning: Mermaid -
Expression: 인어 공주
Pronunciation: in-eo gong-ju
Meaning: Mermaid princess -
Expression: 고래
Pronunciation: go-rae
Meaning: Whale -
Expression: 혹등고래
Pronunciation: hok-deung-go-rae
Meaning: Humpback whale -
Expression: 바다
Pronunciation: ba-da
Meaning: Sea, Ocean -
Expression: 깊은 바다
Pronunciation: gip-eun ba-da
Meaning: Deep sea -
Expression: 심해
Pronunciation: sim-hae
Meaning: Deep sea, abyss -
Expression: 바닷속
Pronunciation: ba-dat-sok
Meaning: Under the sea -
Expression: 산호초
Pronunciation: san-ho-cho
Meaning: Coral reef -
Expression: 해류
Pronunciation: hae-ryu
Meaning: Ocean current -
Expression: 신비로운
Pronunciation: sin-bi-ro-un
Meaning: Mysterious, mystical -
Expression: 환상적인
Pronunciation: hwan-sang-jeok-in
Meaning: Fantastical, dreamlike
Expressions for Singing and Harmony
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Expression: 노래하다
Pronunciation: no-rae-ha-da
Meaning: To sing -
Expression: 노래를 부르다
Pronunciation: no-rae-reul bu-reu-da
Meaning: To sing a song -
Expression: 아름다운 목소리
Pronunciation: a-reum-da-un mok-so-ri
Meaning: Beautiful voice -
Expression: 화음을 맞추다
Pronunciation: hwa-eum-eul mat-chu-da
Meaning: To harmonize -
Expression: 조화를 이루다
Pronunciation: jo-hwa-reul i-ru-da
Meaning: To achieve harmony, be harmonious -
Expression: 멜로디
Pronunciation: mel-lo-di
Meaning: Melody -
Expression: 리듬
Pronunciation: ri-deum
Meaning: Rhythm -
Expression: 심해의 노래
Pronunciation: sim-hae-ui no-rae
Meaning: Song of the deep sea -
Expression: 바다의 자장가
Pronunciation: ba-da-ui ja-jang-ga
Meaning: Lullaby of the sea -
Expression: 음악
Pronunciation: eum-ak
Meaning: Music -
Expression: 소리
Pronunciation: so-ri
Meaning: Sound -
Expression: 울림
Pronunciation: ul-lim
Meaning: Echo, resonance
Expressions for Persuasion and Interaction
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Expression: 설득하다
Pronunciation: seol-deuk-ha-da
Meaning: To persuade, convince -
Expression: 함께 노래해요.
Pronunciation: ham-kke no-rae-hae-yo.
Meaning: Let’s sing together. -
Expression: 제 노래를 들어보세요.
Pronunciation: je no-rae-reul deul-eo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Please listen to my song. -
Expression: 당신의 목소리가 필요해요.
Pronunciation: dang-sin-ui mok-so-ri-ga pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need your voice. -
Expression: 이 노래에 당신의 깊은 소리를 더해주세요.
Pronunciation: i no-rae-e dang-sin-ui gip-eun so-ri-reul deo-hae-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please add your deep sound to this song. -
Expression: 두려워하지 마세요.
Pronunciation: du-ryeo-wo-ha-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Don’t be afraid. -
Expression: 우리의 목소리가 바다에 울려 퍼질 거예요.
Pronunciation: u-ri-ui mok-so-ri-ga ba-da-e ul-lyeo peo-jil geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: Our voices will resonate throughout the ocean. -
Expression: 마음을 열어보세요.
Pronunciation: ma-eum-eul yeol-eo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Please open your heart. -
Expression: 함께 아름다운 조화를 만들어요.
Pronunciation: ham-kke a-reum-da-un jo-hwa-reul man-deul-eo-yo.
Meaning: Let’s create beautiful harmony together. -
Expression: 부탁하다
Pronunciation: bu-tak-ha-da
Meaning: To ask, request -
Expression: 초대하다
Pronunciation: cho-dae-ha-da
Meaning: To invite -
Expression: 응답하다
Pronunciation: eung-dap-ha-da
Meaning: To respond, answer
Describing the Scene and Atmosphere
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Expression: 인어의 노래가 바닷속에 울려 퍼진다.
Pronunciation: in-eo-ui no-rae-ga ba-dat-sok-e ul-lyeo peo-jin-da.
Meaning: The mermaid’s song echoes through the sea. -
Expression: 고래가 인어의 노래에 귀를 기울인다.
Pronunciation: go-rae-ga in-eo-ui no-rae-e gwi-reul gi-ul-in-da.
Meaning: The whale listens attentively to the mermaid’s song. -
Expression: 인어가 부드러운 목소리로 고래를 설득한다.
Pronunciation: in-eo-ga bu-deu-reo-un mok-so-ri-ro go-rae-reul seol-deuk-han-da.
Meaning: The mermaid persuades the whale with a gentle voice. -
Expression: 고래가 낮은 소리로 화답한다.
Pronunciation: go-rae-ga naj-eun so-ri-ro hwa-dap-han-da.
Meaning: The whale responds with a low sound. -
Expression: 두 목소리가 아름답게 어우러진다.
Pronunciation: du mok-so-ri-ga a-reum-dap-ge eo-u-reo-jin-da.
Meaning: The two voices blend beautifully. -
Expression: 바다가 그들의 노래로 가득 찬다.
Pronunciation: ba-da-ga geu-deul-ui no-rae-ro ga-deuk chan-da.
Meaning: The ocean fills with their song. -
Expression: 신비롭고 평화로운 분위기이다.
Pronunciation: sin-bi-rop-go pyeong-hwa-ro-un bun-wi-gi-i-da.
Meaning: It’s a mystical and peaceful atmosphere. -
Expression: 물고기들이 주변에서 춤을 춘다.
Pronunciation: mul-go-gi-deul-i ju-byeon-e-seo chum-eul chun-da.
Meaning: Fish dance around them. -
Expression: 햇빛이 물결을 통해 비친다.
Pronunciation: haet-bit-chi mul-gyeol-eul tong-hae bi-chin-da.
Meaning: Sunlight shines through the waves. -
Expression: 마법 같은 순간이다.
Pronunciation: ma-beop gat-eun sun-gan-i-da.
Meaning: It’s a magical moment. -
Expression: 장엄한 광경이다.
Pronunciation: jang-eom-han gwang-gyeong-i-da.
Meaning: It’s a majestic sight. -
Expression: 감동적인 장면이다.
Pronunciation: gam-dong-jeok-in jang-myeon-i-da.
Meaning: It’s a touching scene.
Korean Culture Notes
While mermaids (인어 – in-eo) aren’t central figures in traditional Korean folklore like they are in some Western cultures, the sea (바다 – ba-da) holds immense significance. Ancient Koreans revered the sea and believed in a Dragon King (용왕 – Yong-wang) who ruled the underwater kingdom. Tales often involve interactions between humans and sea deities or creatures, reflecting a deep respect for nature’s power.
The concept of harmony (조화 – jo-hwa) is deeply ingrained in Korean aesthetics and philosophy. It signifies balance and the beautiful blending of different elements, whether in art, music, food, or nature. The image of a mermaid and whale singing together perfectly embodies this ideal of achieving harmony between different beings and with the natural world.
Traditional Korean music, like Pansori (판소리), often involves expressive storytelling through song. While different from a mermaid’s melody, the emphasis on conveying deep emotion and narrative through voice resonates with the idea of a singer persuading another being through the power of music.
Whales (고래 – go-rae) appear in some Korean legends and historical records, particularly in coastal regions like Ulsan, which has ancient petroglyphs depicting whales. They are often seen as majestic and powerful creatures of the deep, fitting symbols for the profound resonance described in the scenario.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A mermaid singer (인어 가수 – In-eo Ga-su) encounters a large, gentle whale (고래 – Go-rae) in the deep ocean and tries to convince it to sing with her.
Characters:
- A: 인어 가수 (In-eo Ga-su) – Mermaid Singer
- B: 고래 (Go-rae) – Whale (responding with sounds and implied understanding)
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Expression: A: 안녕하세요, 거대한 바다의 친구. 제 노래 들리나요?
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo, geo-dae-han ba-da-ui chin-gu. je no-rae deul-li-na-yo?
Meaning: Hello, great friend of the sea. Can you hear my song? -
Expression: B: (낮고 부드러운 울림 소리)
Pronunciation: (nat-go bu-deu-reo-un ul-lim so-ri)
Meaning: (A low, gentle resonant sound) -
Expression: A: 이것은 심해의 오래된 노래예요. 당신의 깊은 목소리가 더해지면 더욱 아름다워질 거예요.
Pronunciation: i-geos-eun sim-hae-ui o-rae-doen no-rae-ye-yo. dang-sin-ui gip-eun mok-so-ri-ga deo-hae-ji-myeon deo-uk a-reum-da-wo-jil geo-ye-yo.
Meaning: This is an ancient song of the deep sea. It would become even more beautiful if your deep voice were added. -
Expression: B: (호기심 어린 낮은 소리)
Pronunciation: (ho-gi-sim eo-rin naj-eun so-ri)
Meaning: (A curious low sound) -
Expression: A: 저와 함께 화음을 맞추어 보시겠어요? 우리의 목소리로 이 바다를 채워봐요.
Pronunciation: jeo-wa ham-kke hwa-eum-eul mat-chu-eo bo-si-get-seo-yo? u-ri-ui mok-so-ri-ro i ba-da-reul chae-wo-bwa-yo.
Meaning: Would you try harmonizing with me? Let’s fill this ocean with our voices. -
Expression: B: (조심스럽게 낮은 음을 내며 화답한다)
Pronunciation: (jo-sim-seu-reop-ge naj-eun eum-eul nae-myeo hwa-dap-han-da)
Meaning: (Responds cautiously, producing a low note) -
Expression: A: 아름다워요! 바로 그거예요! 함께 이 깊은 바다의 음악을 연주해요!
Pronunciation: a-reum-da-wo-yo! ba-ro geu-geo-ye-yo! ham-kke i gip-eun ba-da-ui eum-ak-eul yeon-ju-hae-yo!
Meaning: Beautiful! That’s it! Let’s perform the music of this deep sea together!
Practice Tips
Imagining fantastical scenes like this is a fun way to expand your Korean vocabulary! Try describing other mythical creatures or imaginative scenarios using the words you’ve learned~ Focus on combining nouns like 인어 (in-eo) or 고래 (go-rae) with descriptive verbs like 노래하다 (no-rae-ha-da) and adjectives like 신비로운 (sin-bi-ro-un).
Practice the pronunciation carefully, especially the distinct syllables and the concept of harmony (화음 – hwa-eum, 조화 – jo-hwa). You can even try listening to whale sounds or ethereal music while reviewing these phrases to enhance the feeling! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to paint vivid pictures with your Korean words!
